Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

—I’ll arrive tomorrow.

Fatigue was written all over Felix’s light brown eyes. Ever since the tenth day of his departure, the weariness clinging to him like a shadow had only deepened, not lessened. The symptoms were clearly from the one-sided marking.
Lowell, believing that shadow had formed because of him, reached out toward the magic sphere—even though he knew his touch couldn’t reach through it.
“Are you all right?”

—I am.
His face didn’t look all right to anyone, but he said he was fine. It wasn’t that he was lying—his pain threshold was just unusually high, so he considered this level of discomfort bearable. It was also a habit born from having to hold strong in battlefield positions where showing weakness was never an option.
“Come back soon.”

That was all Lowell could say. With his weak body, and in a situation where Felix might have become a target, it was impossible to meet him partway.
—There’s nothing to worry about.
Hearing that, Lowell realized he was making a face like he was about to cry. He quickly composed himself. If they kept talking, he knew he’d end up complaining—even though the one suffering more was on the other end.

“Then I’ll go to bed early tonight. Come back safely.”
So instead, he chose to end the call quickly. He wanted Felix to rest, even just a little more, in hopes that it would help him return sooner.
—See you tomorrow.

***
“There’s a lot of storm clouds today.”
Lowell stared blankly at the sky while sipping warm apple tea. Normally he didn’t care much about the weather—he spent most of his time indoors—but today, there was only one reason he was fixated on it. He hoped that the man returning from a long journey would walk an easier path.

“I hope he arrives before the snow starts falling.”
The tea had been poured long ago, and despite him holding the cup constantly, the temperature hadn’t changed. Hours passed as he sat restlessly, until, just as Felix had predicted, news of his return arrived at dusk. But as Lowell feared, Felix was not in good condition.
“All Alphas and Omegas, please clear the area! Anyone with even faint pheromones must remain in their rooms!”

The knights who had arrived ahead of him issued sharp orders to the castle staff waiting to greet the Grand Duke. Lowell quickly understood the situation.
Felix’s condition has worsened.
His walking pace shifted into a light run—though it probably still looked slow to others, his heart was pounding wildly.
“Young master, you’ll need to return to the tower. His Highness specifically instructed us to lock the door and not open it for anyone.”

Tony, standing among the knights, couldn’t bring himself to physically stop Lowell, but gestured urgently for him to go back. When Lowell didn’t move, he signaled to the escort knights beside him.
“For safety, it would be best to return to the tower. His Highness will be back very soon.”
“It’s better if I stay here. My pheromones will help him.”

Lowell could tell Tony wouldn’t ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) back down no matter what he said. Orders were orders—and they were from the person he served.
“Those were His Highness’s direct orders. If anything happens to you because they weren’t followed, none of us will escape the consequences this time.”
Tony emphasized the words none of us. That included not just himself, but the knights and servants currently standing at Lowell’s side. If it were only his own safety at stake, Lowell might’ve resisted—but the thought of harming others made his resolve waver.

So Felix sent Tony here on purpose.
Whether Tony had volunteered or Felix had chosen him specifically, sending someone involved in the past incident was a deliberate warning not to let disaster strike again—not for Lowell, not for anyone in this estate.
“…Understood.”

Lowell decided to back down for now. With the knights’ help, he returned to the tower. But he couldn’t just sit still. He went straight to the window and waited for Felix.
“He’s here.”
It was after sunset, as full darkness settled over the estate, when the man he had waited for finally pushed open the heavy castle gates.

He can’t even hold himself up…
Lowell’s eyes widened in shock. Felix, who always sat tall on horseback like a commander, was now slumped over his mount. The only miracle was that he hadn’t collapsed entirely. The knights flanking him were sticking closer than usual, clearly uneasy.
Lowell had hoped that seeing Felix’s face would bring relief—but instead, a black cloud gathered in his heart, heavy and ready to rain. As if reading that emotion, fat snowflakes began to fall from the sky. They hadn’t interfered with his journey home, but watching Felix—already hurt—getting pelted by snow made Lowell’s chest clench.

Why can’t I do anything?
Usually, Lowell was the type to look for solutions rather than blame himself. In difficult situations, he had a habit of finding the silver lining. But today, even that strength failed him. There was no silver lining in watching someone you love suffer. Helpless, all he could do was stomp his feet in frustration.
Then came a small sound that pierced through his tangled thoughts.

Huh?
Lost in his own mind, Lowell looked down. The bracelet he’d borrowed from Felix was still around his ankle. It hadn’t absorbed as much pheromone as the ring had, but it had been exposed to Felix’s scent for long enough while he was gone.
I should at least give him this.

He bent quickly—then paused. Moving more slowly, he unhooked the bracelet from his ankle.
“Karisse, may I ask you a favor?”
The knights, who had been on high alert to stop him from running out, were caught off guard by the unexpected request and moved quickly.

“Yes, please say it.”
“Could you deliver this to His Grace? I think it would be best if a Beta handled it.”
“Understood. Don’t worry. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

Karisse checked the object Lowell handed her and nodded firmly. Then, without another word, she sprinted off. Lowell watched her go until she disappeared into the main building—and even then, he lingered at the window, hoping for news of Felix’s condition.
But Karisse didn’t return quickly, even though she’d left like she would.
It should be about time…

Outside, the snow had thickened into a full-blown storm. Snow whirled through the dark sky, muffling every sound within the estate. In the unnaturally quiet night, Lowell did nothing but wait for the door to open. He strained all his senses, hoping for the sound of footsteps. On a normal day, sensing the movements of a trained knight like Karisse would’ve been impossible. But tonight, he thought maybe—just maybe—it was possible.
Is that… footsteps?
As if to reward his anticipation, the faintest noise echoed inside the tower. A sound so subtle it would’ve gone unnoticed if everyone hadn’t been silent—refined and deliberate, like a habit.

“Stand back. It’s not Karisse.”
Tia, sensing that the approaching presence wasn’t her partner, drew her sword and stepped in front of Lowell, guiding him back toward the bed. Lowell, full of expectation, flinched but obeyed. There was no need to complicate things.
“Lowell.”

The tense silence shattered—by a voice both familiar and strange. It wasn’t hard to recognize who it was. But that person had never spoken with such a hoarse, fragile tone before.
“Lowell… Lowell.”
From beyond the door came a voice more desperate than that of a child who’d lost their parents. The knights tensed, unsure how to respond. Tia, sword in hand, let her arm fall slack.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t come inside.”
Tia spoke, but her voice wavered at the end. She looked between the door and Lowell, clearly torn.
“Lowell. I know you’re there.”

Despite being told to stay back, Felix didn’t retreat. He called out to Lowell, his voice clinging like a plea—as if seeking a missing piece of himself.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Surrounded by knights, Lowell finally answered that desperate, aching call.

“I’m here.”
Outside, the blizzard was now battering the tower.